Load/unload ramp spoiler for a hard disk drive

Abstract

A load/unload ramp spoiler for a hard disk drive is disclosed. One embodiment provides a load/unload ramp body having at least one load/unload ramp associated therewith, the at least one load/unload ramp for receiving at least one slider coupled with an actuator assembly. In addition, at least one spoiler is integrated with the load/unload ramp body to reduce detrimental local excitation of an airflow encountering the load/unload ramp body.

1 . A load/unload ramp spoiler for a hard disk drive comprising:
 a load/unload ramp body having at least one load/unload ramp associated therewith, said at least one load/unload ramp for receiving at least one slider coupled with an actuator assembly; and   at least one spoiler integrated with said at least one load/unload ramp body, said at least one spoiler for reducing detrimental local excitation of an airflow encountering the load/unload ramp body.   
     
     
         2 . The load/unload ramp spoiler of  claim 1  wherein said airflow is generated by a rotating of a disk and said at least one spoiler comprises an aerodynamically shaped leading edge with respect to a direction of rotation of said disk. 
     
     
         3 . The load/unload ramp spoiler of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a plurality of load/unload ramps associated with said load/unload ramp body, and   a plurality of spoilers equal to said plurality of load/unload ramps, wherein said plurality of spoilers are integrated with said load/unload ramp body.   
     
     
         4 . The load/unload ramp spoiler of  claim 1  wherein a leading edge of said at least one spoiler is formed in the shape of an arc generated by a motion of said at least one slider with respect to said disk. 
     
     
         5 . The load/unload ramp spoiler of  claim 1  wherein a leading edge of said at least one spoiler is formed in the shape of an arc generated by a motion of said actuator assembly with respect to said disk. 
     
     
         6 . The load/unload ramp spoiler of  claim 1  wherein a clearance between a leading edge of said at least one spoiler and said at least one slider is approximately 0.5 millimeters. 
     
     
         7 . The load/unload ramp spoiler of  claim 1  wherein said detrimental local excitation is selected from the group consisting of: flow induced vibration of said at least one slider, flow induced vibration of an integrated lead suspension trace coupled with said actuator assembly, or flow induced vibration of suspension components coupled with said actuator assembly. 
     
     
         8 . A hard disk drive comprising:
 a housing;   a disk pack mounted to the housing and having a plurality of disks that are rotatable relative to the housing, the disk pack defining an axis of rotation and a radial direction relative to the axis, wherein the rotating of said plurality of disks generates an airflow;   an actuator mounted to the housing and being movable relative to the disk pack, the actuator having a plurality of sliders thereon;   a load/unload ramp body coupled with said housing, said load/unload ramp body having a plurality of load/unload ramps for receiving said plurality of sliders; and   at least one spoiler fixedly coupled with said load/unload ramp body, said at least one spoiler for reducing detrimental local excitation of said airflow when said airflow interacts with said load/unload ramp body.   
     
     
         9 . The hard disk drive of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a bypass channel formed in the housing, said bypass channel providing additional control of the airflow generated by the rotating of said plurality of disks.   
     
     
         10 . The hard disk drive of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a diffuser coupled with the housing, said diffuser providing additional control of the airflow generated by the rotating of said plurality of disks.   
     
     
         11 . The hard disk drive of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a contraction coupled with the housing, said contraction providing additional control of the airflow generated by the rotating of said plurality of disks.   
     
     
         12 . The hard disk drive of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a plurality of spoilers equal in number to said plurality of load/unload ramps, said plurality of spoilers fixedly coupled with said load/unload ramp body, said plurality of spoilers for reducing local excitation of said airflow when said airflow interacts with said load/unload ramp body.   
     
     
         13 . The hard disk drive of  claim 8  wherein a leading edge of said at least one spoiler is formed in the shape of an arc generated by a motion of said slider with respect to a surface of at least one of said plurality of disks. 
     
     
         14 . The hard disk drive of  claim 8  wherein a clearance between a leading edge of said at least one spoiler and said at least one slider is approximately 0.5 millimeters. 
     
     
         15 . A method for reducing flow induced vibration related to airflow encounters with a load/unload ramp of a hard disk drive, said method comprising:
 receiving a load/unload ramp body having at least one load/unload ramp associated therewith, said at least one load/unload ramp for receiving at least one slider coupled with an actuator assembly; and   providing at least one spoiler with said load/unload ramp body to reduce unsteady airflow related to airflow encounters with said load/unload ramp body, thereby reducing flow induced vibration of at least a portion of said actuator assembly.   
     
     
         16 . The method as described in  claim 15  further comprising:
 forming a bypass channel in a housing of said hard disk drive, said bypass channel providing additional control of the airflow.   
     
     
         17 . The method as described in  claim 15  further comprising:
 receiving a load/unload ramp body having a plurality of load/unload ramps associated therewith, and   providing a plurality of spoilers, equal to said plurality of load/unload ramps, with said load/unload ramp body.   
     
     
         18 . The method as described in  claim 15  further comprising:
 forming a leading edge of said at least one spoiler in the shape of an arc generated by a motion of said slider with respect to a surface of at least one disk.   
     
     
         19 . The method as described in  claim 15  further comprising:
 utilizing a diffuser coupled with a housing of said hard disk drive, said diffuser providing additional control of the airflow generated by the rotating of at least one disk; and   utilizing a contraction coupled with the housing, said contraction providing additional control of the airflow generated by the rotating of said at least one disk.   
     
     
         20 . The method as described in  claim 15  wherein said flow induced vibration is selected from the group consisting of: flow induced vibration of said at least one slider, flow induced vibration of an integrated lead suspension trace coupled with said actuator assembly, or flow induced vibration of suspension components coupled with said actuator assembly.